The livestream may be found here.
EVENING PRAYER
for Wednesday in 4 Lent
Vespers
Commemoration of Jonathan Edwards, Teacher and Missionary to the Native Americans
(Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 142)
Behold, now is the acceptable time;
now is the day of salvation.
Turn us again, O God of our salvation,
that the light of your face may shine upon us.
May your justice shine like the sun,
and may the poor be lifted up.
Joyous light of glory:
of the immortal Father;
heavenly, holy, blessed Jesus Christ.
We have come to the setting of the sun,
and we look to the evening light.
We sing to God, the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit:
You are worthy of being praised
with pure voices forever.
O Son of God, O Giver of life:
The universe proclaims your glory.
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe, who led your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night: Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ; may his Word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path; for you are merciful, and you love your whole creation, and we, your creatures, glorify you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen
The psalmody begins with this prayer for forgiveness and protection:
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly;
hear my voice when I cry to you.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord,
and guard the door of my lips.
Let not my heart incline to any evil thing;
let me not be occupied in wickedness with evildoers.
But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God;
in you I take refuge. Strip me not of my life.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Amen.
Let my prayer rise before you as incense;
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Ps. 141:1-7
Silence for meditation.
Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before you, O Lord, and let your lovingkindness descend upon us, that with purified minds we may sing your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host, and may glorify you forever and ever.
Amen
Psalm 119:89-104
Lamedh Tone 2
89 O Lord, your word is | everlasting;*
it stands firm | in the heavens.
90 Your
faithfulness remains from one generation | to another;*
you established the earth, and | it abides.
91 By your
decree these continue | to this day,*
for all things | are your servants.
92 If my
delight had not been | in your law,*
I should have perished in | my affliction.
93 I will
never forget | your commandments,*
because by them you | give me life.
94 I am
yours--oh, that | you would save me!--*
for I study | your commandments.
95 Though the
wicked lie in wait for me | to destroy me,*
I will apply my mind to | your decrees.
96 I see that
all things come | to an end,*
but your commandment | has no bounds.
Mem Tone 1
97 Oh, how I
| love your law!*
All the day long it is | in my mind.
98 Your
commandment has made me wiser | than my enemies,*
and it is | always with me.
99 I have
more understanding than | all my teachers,*
for your decrees | are my study.
100 I am
wiser | than the elders,*
because I observe | your commandments.
101 I
restrain my feet from every | evil way,*
that I may | keep your word.
102 I do not
shrink | from your judgments,*
because you your- | self have taught me.
103 How sweet
are your words | to my taste!*
They are sweeter than honey | to my mouth.
104 Through
your commandments I gain | understanding;*
therefore I hate every | lying way.
Lord, you are just and your commandments are eternal. Teach us to love you with all our hearts and to love our neighbor as ourselves, for the sake of Jesus our Lord. Amen
Hymn 524 My God, How Wonderful Thou Art
1 My God, how wonderful
thou art,
thy majesty how
bright!
How beautiful thy
mercy seat
in depths of burning
light!
2 How wonderful, how
beautiful
the sight of thee
must be--
thine endless wisdom,
boundless pow'r,
and awesome purity!
3 No earthly father
loves like thee;
no mother, e'er so
mild,
bears and forbears as
thou hast done
with me, thy sinful
child.
almighty as thou art,
for thou hast stooped
to ask of me
the love of my poor
heart.
5 My God, how wonderful
thou art,
thou everlasting friend!
On thee I stay my
trusting heart
till faith in vision
end.
Text: Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
READINGS
1 Corinthians 2:6-10, 13-16
John 17:6-10
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
From Jonathan Edwards's Personal Narrative
Response
In many and various ways
God spoke to this people of old by the prophets.
But now in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.
The GOSPEL CANTICLE is sung.
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed.
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm;
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel,
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
Prayers
For the fourth week in Lent
For the commemoration of Jonathan Edwards
For renewal in the life of baptism
For dedication to the life of God
For our own needs and the needs of others
For peace
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, + the Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us. Amen
